Method of and apparatus for coloring articles



July 6, 1937. MNALLY 2,085,988,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING ARTICLES Fiied July 27 1955 INVENTOR.

Edwin H. lf l alg ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1 937 UNITED STATE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLOR mo ARTICLES 3 Edwin M. McNally, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application July 27, 1933, Serial No. 682,405

6 Claims.

The present application relates to a method of, and apparatus for, coloring articles; and is particularly adapted to applying multi-color decoration to aluminum articles; though it may be used in applying single color decoration to any article; and may be used in applying uncolored decoration to aluminum articles. I The primary object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for, decorating articles with stripes, plaids, checks, or any other desired figures. A further object of the invention is to provide novel masking means for use in the process of decorating articles, such masking means being of such character as to be associable with a relatively large number of articles to be decorated at one time. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in 20 the form illustrated in the accompanying drawing, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawing is illustrative only, and that change may be made inthe specific construction illustrated and described,'or in the specific steps stated, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

- Fig. l is a front elevation of a rack carrying a plurality of articles to be treated, masking means being associated with said articles;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a fragm ental elevation of the operative face of a masking unit element;

Fig.. 5 is a section takenpsubst'antially on the lines 55 of Fig. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view of'an article which has been decorated in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view representing various vats used in the process of the present invention;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are fragmental elevations showing the results of succeeding stepsin the process of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental section through a modifled masking element; and f Fig. 12 is a fragmental view similar to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, and showing the result of the use of the masking means of Fig. 11.

While, as has been'indicated, the process and apparatus of the present invention are adapted for use in decorating various articles, I have illustrated it, and shall describe the same, in connection with the decoration of aluminum tooth ed the anode in an acid electrolyte bath, or suitbrush handles of the type which has been popularized in the last few years by a well known manufacturer. Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that I have shown a rack or support, indicated generally at 20, and comprising a frame made up of side members 2| and 22, end members 23 and 24, and a cross brace 25. Each of the side members 2| and 22 carries a plurality of fastening screws 26, and each of said screws holds in place a U member 21 having projecting arms 28. and 29 extending in one direction from said member 2|; and a second U member 30 having projecting arms 3| and 32 extending in the opposite direction from said side member.

The U members 21 and 30 are preferably made of resilient wire.

The rack 20 is entirely formed of metal, and is provided with an upwardly extending metal hook 33 for a purpose, later to be explained.

It will be understood that the rack 20 is constructed specifically for use in treating metal tooth brush handles; and that, where other articles are to be treated, therack will be constructed in such a manner as satisfactorily to support the articles to be treated.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, corresponding arms 28 of the U members 2'1 carried on the side members 2| and 22 support opposite ends of .a tooth brush handle 34. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, each tooth brush handle 34 is formed-with a large opening 36 extending completely through the same adjacent one end, and with a small aperture 31 extending therethrough adjacent the opposite end. As will be clear, the arm 28 of a U member 21 on the side member 2| is extended through the opening 36, while the arm 28 of the corresponding U member 21 mounted on the side member ,22 is extended through the aperture 31 of the same tooth brush handle. It will be clear that the number of tooth brush handles which may be mounted upon a ,rack 20 is limited only by the number of arms 28 and 29 on one side and the number of arms 3| and 32 on the other side of said rack.

Each tooth brush handle comprises a shank 35,'l.aving opposite panels 38 which, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, are intend-- ed to be decorated. In some cases, the panel 38 may carry a name or other legend, as at 39.

-It is known to the art that, while. metallic aluminum will not take color from aniline dyes, or other similar colors, it may be prepared to take such color by anodic oxidation. Such oxidation may be effected-by making the article to be treatlyte, said racks being supported by the hooks 33' engaged over a rod or rods 4| supported above the top of the electrolyte bath. The rod 4| and the lining 43 of the vat 48 are suitably connected by wires 42 and 44 to a source .of electric current of proper density, in such a manner as to make the racks 20 and the tooth brush handles 34 supported thereon anodes in a plating circuit. As the current passes through that circuit, the

anodic oxidation of the tooth brush handles 34- takes place.

After a suitable length of treatment in the vat 40, racks 20 are removed therefrom, and said racks and the articles supported thereon are washed, whereafter a masking unit comprising the elements 44 and45, is associated with said articles 34.

The elements 44 and 45 are constructed for mating, clamping association. Each of said elements comprises a base46 of some rigid, relatively incompressible material, such as cast aluminum. Upon one surface of each of said bases 46 may be secured a sheet 41 of rubber, or like, readily compressible material, said sheet being formed or provided with one or'more outstanding ribs 48. Said ribs must necessarily be formed of readily compressible material, such as rubber, linoleum, or the like; though the sheets 41 themselves need not be formed of such material. In fact, though such a construction would be less convenient, the ribs 48 might be mounted directlyupon the bases 46; instead of being formed upon sheets 41 secured to said bases.

Each base 46 is formed with a plurality of apertures 49 for receiving clamping bolts 50, whereby the elements 44 and 45 may be clamped together.

In the illustrated embodiment, the elements 44 and 45 are allochiral inevery respect; since it is desired to decorate opposite sides of the articles 34 in a corresponding manner. It will be clear, however, that if one side only of the article 34 were to be specifically decorated, the element 44 might take the form of a mere backing member for the masking element 45.

The articles 34 having been suitably oxidized, an element 44 is slipped between the whole series of said articles and the body of the rack 20, and the element 45 is mated therewith adjacent the outer surface of said articles 34. The bolts 58 are then inserted and tightened to clamp the elements 44 and 45 against the opposite surfaces of said articles 34. The bolts 50 are tightened sufliciently to compress the ribs 48 against the articles '34, thereby forming liquid seals with said articles. It will be obvious that those portions of the surfaces of the articles 34 with which the ribs 48 of the elements 44 and 45 contact are sealed against liquid contact.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the rack 80, with its supported articles 34 and masking units 44-45, is

dipped in a vet. 5| containing a bath of liquid cblor, said rack being supported from a rod 52 by the hook 33. The coloring matter contained in the vat 5| will thus be applied to the unmasked successive dyeing steps.

portions of the surfaces of the articles 34'; and; the intensity of the color taken by such unmasked surfaces will depend, in some measure, upon the duration of immersion of the articles in the bath.

The racks 20 are then removed from the vat 5| 5 and washed with clear water in any desired manner. Thereafter, the masking unit 44-45 is removed, and another masking unit, having differently arranged ribs 48, is associated with said articles 34 to mask different portions .of the sur- 10 face thereof. The rack 28, with the supported articles and masking units, is then supported by the hook 33 from a rod 54, the articles 34 and masking units being immersed in another liquid coloring bath in said vat 53.

After washing again, still other portions of the articles 34 are masked, and the rack 28 is'supported by the hook 33 from the rod 56 in a furthervat 55, the articlesi'34 being immersed in a further bath of coloring liquid in said vat 55.

Figs. 8, 9, -and 10 illustrate the results of the Fig. 8 shows a section of a panel 38 after the dyeing in the vat 5|. If it be assumed that the vat 5| contains yellow dye, and if it be assumed that the portions 51 of the panel 38 are masked before the articles are dipped in the vat 5|, it will be clear that the portions 51 of the panel 38 will emerge from the vat 5|. without coloring, while the body of the tooth brush handle, and the stripes 58 will emerge from that vat colored yellow.

Fig. 9 illustrates the result of .asubsequent dipping in the vat 53.

If. it be assumed that stripes perpendicular to the stripes 58 are masked before the rack 28 is dipped in the vat 53, and- 35 if it be assumed that the vat 53 contains blue dye, it will be clear. that, when the articles 34 emerge from the vat '53, the bodies of the articles 34 will be green, the portions 59 will likewise be green, the portions 60 will be blue, the portions 58 will be yellow, and the portions 57 will be uncolored. If, now, those portions of the panels 38 which were originally colored in the vat 5| are masked before dipping the articles into the red dye in the vat 55, the articles 34 will emerge from the vat 55 with the following color arrangement. The bodies of the articles will be brown. The portions 58 will be yellow. The portions 59 will be green. The portions 68 will be blue. The portions 6| will be red. And the portions 62 will be purple. Obviously; any desired color combination, and any desired arrangement of colors, .may be obtained by varying the shape and arrangement of the ribs 48. As obviously, the color combination and arrangement of colors may be varied by dipping the previously oxidized articles into a vat of dye without masking, and subsequently masking the articles and dippingthem, with or withoutchanging of the masking, into one or more vats of other colors. In the same way, the color combination may be varied by successively masking the articles in different arrangements and dipping them successively into vats of various colors, and thereafter, dipping the articles without masking, into a final vat of another color.

Furthermore, uncolored circles or annuli may be formed on the panel 38', as indicated in Fig. 12, by the use of masking members constructed in 70 the manner illustrated in Fig. 11. In said Fig. 11' is illustrated a fragment of a masking element comprising a base 46 having secured to one face thereof a sheet 41' formed with an outstanding annular rib 48'. Said rib immediately surrounds an aperture extending through the sheet 41' and registering with an aperture 66 extending through the base 46'. Obviously, if the masking element illustrated in Fig. 11 is associated with an article 34 which is dipped into the vat 5|, that article will emerge from the vat with the portions 58 colored yellow, and with the annuli 51 uncolored. If, now, the article illustrated in Fig. 12 is dipped, without masking, into the vat 53, the annuli on the panel 38 will become blue, while the rest of the panel 38' will be colored green.

Advantage may be taken of the fact that aluminum which has not been-subjected to the anodic oxidation process will not take aniline dyes, in the following manner. Before the racks and the articles 34 supported thereon are dipped in the vat 40, suitable masking units may be pearing on the panel 38 of the tooth brush illustrated in Fig. 6 may be formed in that manner. Regardless of the finish subsequently gi'ven'to the tooth brush handle, thereafter the name Marywill always stand out in metallic luster against the colored background of the panel 38.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the free surfaces of the ribs 48 are disposed in a curved surface, said surface being gently curved about an axis parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the unit 44 or 45. -This is because of the fact that the toothbrush handles 34 with which the elements 44 and 45 are intended to cooperate, are so curved. It will be entirely obvious that, if plane articles are to be decorated, the free surfaces of the ribs 48 will lie in a single plane. Similarly, if the surfaces to be decorated are curved about more than one axis, or are partspherical, the free surfaces of the ribs 48 will lie in corresponding curved surfaces.

I claim as my invention:

'1. The method of decorating aluminum articles which includes the steps of mounting upon a support a plurality of such articles in substantial parallelism in substantially a single plane, asso ciating with all of said articles a unitary masking means for sealing portions only of each of said articles against liquid contact, dipping said support, articles, and masking means into a bath of electrolyte and passing a current therethrough to effect anodic oxidation of the unmasked portions only of the surfaces of' said articles, removing said masking means, and applying liquid dye to said articles, whereby the oxidized portions only of the surfaces of said articles are colored.

2. The method of decorating aluminum articles which includes the steps 'of mounting upon a support a plurality of such articles in substantial parallelism in substantially a single plane, associating with all of said articles a unitary masking means for sealing portions only of each of said articles against liquid contact, dipping said support, articles, and masking means into a bath to effect anodic oxidation of the unmasked portions only of the surfaces of said articles, removing said masking means, associating with all of said articles a unitary masking means for sealing other portions only of each of said articles againstliquid contact, and dipping said support,-

articles, and masking means into a bath of coloring liquid, whereby color is applied to the unmasked oxidized portions only of the surface of each of said articles.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rack, a plurality of articles removably sup-; ported upon said rack in substantial parallelism substantially in a single plane, and masking means cooperable simultaneously with all of said articles and comprising a backing member adapted to contact all of said articles, and a masking member, and means for clamping said backing of electrolyte and passing a current therethrou gh member and masking member together with all of said articles clamped therebetween, said masking member being formed with a raised portion of compressible material engaging and compressed against each of said articles to form a liquid seal therewith;

4. Apparatus of the class described, ccmprisof said articles clamped therebetween, said backing member and said masking member each being formed with a raised portion of compressible material engaging and'compressed against each of said articles to form a liquid seal therewith.

5.'Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rack, a plurality of articlesremovably supported upon said rack in substantial parallelism substantiallyin a single plane, and masking means cooperable simultaneously with all of said articles and comprising a backing member adapted to contact all of said articles, and a masking member, and means for clamping said backing member and masking member together with all of said articles clamped therebetween, said masking member being provided with an outstanding rib of soft rubber engaging and I compressed against each of said articles to form a liquid seal therewith.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rack, a plurality of articles removably supported upon said rack in substantial parallelism substantially in a single plane, and masking means cooperable simultaneously with all of said articles and comprising a backing member adapted to contact all of said articles, and a masking member, and means for, clamping said backing member and masking member together with all of said articles clamped therebetween, said backing member and said masking member each being provided with an outstanding rib of soft rubber engaging and compressed against each of a liquid seal therewith.

said articles to form EDWIN M. MCNALLY. 

